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Get into the ring! How this works...

This is easy! Each week on Thursday I post my homily idea...my main focus for preaching this coming Sunday. What I am hoping for is a reaction from people in the pews. Does my "focus" connect with your daily life, faith, and experience? Or not? Either affirm the direction I am going in (by giving me an example from your life) or challenge me, ask for clarification! Questions are the best! Reaction rather than reflection is what I'm looking for here. Don't be afraid, get in the ring. Ole!



Friday, February 5, 2016

February 7th Homily Prep

-Last Sunday's homily is available by email
-This Sunday's Scriptures can be found at www.usccb.org
-check out this weeks LinC letter at www.parishlincletter.blogspot.com
-I will be celebrating mass this weekend at 9:30am and 12:30pm

What's Your Fishing Boat?

In this Sunday's Gospel, Jesus gets in or better, invades not just Peter's fishing boat - but his very livelihood. Uninvited, Jesus asserts himself into Peter's world, his stuff, his expertise, his space and he takes over.  And Peter lets him.

That "invasion and surrender" is what the Lord wants to do in all our lives.  So, two questions!  What is your fishing boat?  Will your surrender?

What is your livelihood, your life's work, your expertise, your realm in which you operate and lead in life?  Maybe we each have more than one.  Do you know that Jesus wants to get in there?  Are you prepared tto surrender to him there?

Some of these boats are great things like work, art, athletics, exercise, parenting, relationships, etc. some of these are less good - leisure time, sexuality, entertainment, alcohol, etc.  Yes, Jesus is invading there too.

In as much as we perceive his invasion and surrender to his values, friendship, guidance, insertion, grace - to that extent the real living in freedom can begin.

I think most of us stubbornly and jealously hold onto control of our boat.  Not even Jesus can insert himself in that realm of our lives. We prefer that Jesus stay in church and let us worry about life.